Perkins' students sing anthem, library director honored at Celtics game

Thursday

Mar 28, 2013 at 12:01 AMMar 28, 2013 at 7:51 AM

There were two standing ovations at Boston’s TD Garden Tuesday evening, and the objects of the crowd’s affection were not even NBA basketball players. They were members of Perkins School for the Blind’s Secondary School chorus and Perkins Library Director Kim Charlson of Watertown.

There were two standing ovations at Boston’s TD Garden Tuesday evening, and the objects of the crowd’s affection were not even NBA basketball players. They were members of Perkins School for the Blind’s Secondary School chorus and Perkins Library Director Kim Charlson of Watertown.

Before the Celtics took on the N.Y. Knicks, 13 singers under the direction of Perkins choral director Arnie Harris delivered a pitch-perfect rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner,” bringing 18,600 fans to their feet. The Jumbotron zoomed in on the proud faces of the Perkins students as they received the ovation kicking off “Perkins Night at the Celtics,” an annual event spotlighting Perkins’ long-running partnership with the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation which benefits children directly through programs that provide education and support.

Midway through the second quarter, the public address announcer stopped the action as Kim Charlson with Dolly, her guide dog, were escorted onto the court to receive the “Heroes Among Us” honor for her leadership and advocacy on behalf of people who are blind. Part of Charlson’s advocacy entails reaching out to the estimated 100,000 individuals in the Commonwealth who may be unaware that they are eligible to receive audio books, large print or braille materials from the Library. Anyone who has difficulty managing traditional print materials because of a disability can apply to receive free Library services.

At half-time Celtics CEO and co-owner Wyc Grousbeck and Perkins Trust Chair Corinne Grousbeck presented Perkins President Steven Rothstein with a generous donation on behalf of the Shamrock Foundation, once more bringing a spirited response from around the stadium. Among the many donors and guests who stopped by to congratulate Perkins during the evening was Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge.

During a half-time radio interview, Wyc Grousbeck – whose son attends Perkins – summed up what the annual night at the Garden means to his son and his friends at Perkins: “They got a standing ‘O’ from 18,600 people,” he said. “There’s a lot of warmth in the building. They feel it and they take that energy into their daily lives…and they use it. We really all appreciate it very much.”